What 3 Percent Will Change Your Career?
We’ve all seen the food pictures on social media, lots of them. Many people take their food pretty seriously. Some are known as picky eaters. Employers might be seriously picky, how will you change your career?
It seems that there is about three percent making the difference between awesome and, “No thanks, I’ll pass.”
Chicken nuggets without any sauce, a birthday cake without any icing, “No thanks, I’ll pass.”
Tomatoes on my turkey and cheese submarine sandwich or buried under my bun on a Whopper from Burger King, “Nope, they have to go!”
What is the difference between delicious and terrible? I would suggest about three percent.
Your Three Percent
The same might be true for your career. You might want to consider what you have to do to be the special sauce or the icing on the cake. What do you need to remove or eliminate? What will change your career?
I believe that we sometimes overestimate on the big stuff and underestimate on the small. People work really hard on the big stuff. College degrees, fancy titles, getting in with the most predominate and reputable employers. Sure, those things might be important but the game changer might be in the three percent.
Change Your Career
Here are a few things to consider:
- Do you speak the language? I’m not suggesting the difference between English, Spanish, or French. Do you use words and phrases that are consistent with the organizational culture and mission? Language drives emotions and like it or not emotions condition our likability factor.
- Are you confident? Confidence is based on our self-efficacy and self-esteem. Confidence can be built, similar to trust it can also easily be destroyed. The difference for confidence is that it is lost only if we allow it. Past mistakes or shortcomings shouldn’t make you feel weak. What is important is what you learned.
- Do you look the part? This might ruffle some feathers but it might be the tomatoes on the sandwich. Have you thought about what should go? Sure, you can color your hair purple or have a ZZ Top beard you have the right. Is either of those smart for your career? It might depend on the business, but beware.
It’s early in the morning but I’m already thinking about lunch.
I know I’m going to toss the tomatoes on my sandwich.
It will then be perfect.
– DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and corporate trainer that specializes in helping businesses and individuals accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. He is a four-time author and some of his work includes, Forgotten Respect, Navigating A Multigenerational Workforce and Pivot and Accelerate, The Next Move Is Yours! Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
